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Post by Curse Kameren on May 9, 2011 0:23:36 GMT -5
Thank Merlin for pain medication.
Today, Curse Kameren wasn't at the hospital for his mental illness. No, today he was there for a different reason. He still stayed in the mental ward, however. He laid on the bed in a pair of muggle sweat pants, and nothing else. He laid on his bed, the one he had had during his other treatments. Mungo's sort of reserved this room for him, now. The place had turned into a strange sort of home for him. He wasn't sure if he was quite alright with this realization, but it was true none the less. He lived in the hospital lately. He wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing.
His green eyes stared un-blinking at the sterile grey Mungo's ceiling. He couldn't move, it felt; he felt like there was broken glass in his veins, the treatment his doctors ripping him apart into an even more shredded version of himself than he was to start with. It was all for good reason, of course; he wanted to live longer, to see more of his son's life. He wanted to be around for what little family he had. A lot of pain right now meant he would possibly be healthy for longer. In the end, it just might be worth it.
A night at Mungo's was all he'd need for this procedure, hopefully. He and the head antidote specialist at Mungo's were working together, trying to develop a better version of his antidote, keeping his strength intact for longer and hopefully expanding his prognosis. There was no way of knowing for sure whether it was helping yet, but the short-term effects while he was getting used to it were difficult. He hadn't slept in days because of the pain, and he couldn't keep food down. He had had to drop Max off with Alex, upsetting the boy because of it. He knew he couldn't get better with Max there, though. Curse couldn't bear letting Max see the amount of pain he was in.
A lot of pain now, results later. Pain now, results later. Keep telling yourself that--
CRSH. CLNK.
What the Hell was that? Curse's head snapped over at the door to his room, the sound echoing through the hallways. It was late, there wouldn't be many out in the halls this time of night. At least not making that kind of noise. This was the mental ward, however; anything could happen here.
Curse grunted in pain as he shifted himself over, throwing his lanky legs over the side of the bed. The professor grit his teeth as he willed himself standing, ever vein in his body screaming in protest at his action. He took the few shaky steps towards the door, quietly opening it and stepping out. He kept a hand on the wall, keeping himself steady as he looked around the last thing he needed was a fall.
There was no one out in the hall, as far as he could see. No one around. His emerald eyes flashed up and down the hallway, curious now. "Hello?"
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 9, 2011 19:06:10 GMT -5
The baby was hungry. A hungry baby was a unhappy one and unhappy things cried. Crying was noise and that would alert the bad people that there was a baby. Baby Arianna was a secret. if she was found they would kill her because she was the spawn of a muggle born and thus had tainted unrightful magic. A pureblood was not suppose to have had relations with one such as that. It was insidious and her family had been right to punish her. Still, she had to protect the baby. It was a part of her even though it contained evil.
A gaunt woman in her early forties hid behind the corner clutching a carefully wrapped bundle to her thin chest. She had foolishly knocked over a potted plant in her attempt to procure something for the baby to drink. Terrified that she had alerted the people who wanted to hurt her baby she had dashed round the corner. Heart beating rapidly she waited. Footsteps in the hallway made her squirm. Her loins tightened and she feared she had to use the restroom. In her mind the baby whined and she soothed it softly.
"Hello?"
The voice startled her and the baby. A infants wail broke the silence of the hall. It stopped as soon as the woman hushed it. Shaking she just stood there convinced that she had been discovered. She had to do something. Had to some how save her baby.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 9, 2011 21:54:19 GMT -5
A small hush caught Curse's attention from a little down the hall. Curious, he wandered over, trying to keep quiet. Someone was hiding, he could see their shadow from behind the corner. Why were they hiding from him? It wasn't like he could do anything to hurt them, especially in his current condition. The slightest touch could send him writhing in pain. His feet were proving it, as each step he took with his bare feet burned like fire.
"Are you okay?" He leaned curiously around the corner, his emerald eyes falling curiously on a wide-eyed, red-haired woman. She wore the robes given to the permanent patients at Mungo's; a permanent mental patient. Curse had rarely gotten to see the permanent patients, as most of them were too dangerous to be around. He worried suddenly; what if this woman was dangerous? He wasn't sure if he could take a fight in this condition. His worries stopped when he noticed the bundle of cloth in her hands.
He looked at the cloth, then back up to the woman. He took a hesitant step forward, still keeping a hand on the wall for support. He reached a hand out to the woman, smiling warmly. "Please, let me help you."
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 9, 2011 22:02:11 GMT -5
Someone was coming and yet her body wouldn't move. Frozen she waited for who ever it was to capture her. In her mind there were thousands of footsteps, an army after her and her child. A warm, tingling sensation started in her tummy, she glanced down as a warm liquid rolled down her leg to puddle on the floor. She ignored the symptom of her fear but it had awakened her. She started to inch along the wall when a large man turned the corner.
It was Cedric Kameren. Relief and fear clawed at her. Yes, she knew this man but the fact did not help her. If he was here it meant that her family was near by. They had found her and the baby at last.
"Have you finally come to kill the child Cedric," She said her voice cold but slightly defiant. She shifted the bundle of rags, to protect the child behind her.
"Or to take me home so my family can reinstate me to my proper heritage? Were you there the day they realized I had eloped with a muggle? I wished I could have seen the horrified shock. It must have been beautiful."
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 9, 2011 23:18:43 GMT -5
Curse was confused by the woman and her reactions towards him. She was afraid of him, he noticed she'd wet herself. Curse looked around for any staff. Why was no one here? Where had everyone gone? Sure it was late, but this was the mental ward. The residents here were in constant need. His brow furrowed in confusion. He took a step toward the older woman, wanting to help her. He wanted to get the bundle of cloth out of her hands. She cradled it like a baby; had she made it down to the maternity ward and back up here, or was this a delusion? She held it towards her body, so he couldn't see properly. If it was, he needed to make sure the baby was safe.
"Have you finally come to kill the child Cedric,"
"Wha-? I'm-" Curse stuttered, now even more confused. This woman was mistaking him for his father, apparently. She must be one of the pure-blooded residents, driven mad by the thinness of their family line. So she thought he was Cedric, though Cedric had been in Azkaban for years. She was in some sort of delusion, but that didn't mean there wasn't a baby in that cloth.
"Or to take me home so my family can reinstate me to my proper heritage? Were you there the day they realized I had eloped with a muggle? I wished I could have seen the horrified shock. It must have been beautiful."
Curse was about to protest, but he stopped himself. She was a long-term patient. Reason wouldn't reach her. Just go with it, then, at least until he was sure there wasn't a newborn in danger. "Umm, yes. They were shocked, but they want you home now. So, give me the child. I can protect him from them." He kept his emerald eyes on her, carefully reaching his hands outward toward the woman as he inched closer. Before he could help this woman, he needed to make sure there wasn't a child in danger.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 9, 2011 23:31:43 GMT -5
Just like Cedric to assume the child was male. Green eyes flashed in anger as he tried to take the child from her.
"Just like a Kameren to assume the child is male. I will not let you sully Arianna. She is too precious for someone such as you to touch her. Even if she is a halfblood." She said turning her entire body away from him, hunching over the bundle.
"Go away. I won't let you take me back. I will not allow them to brain wash me. Not all muggle borns are horrible, you know..." She said softly as her mind drifted back to the day she'd met Damien. She'd been in Hogwarts, a happy time for her. She had been truly free from her family and their peculiar ways. It had been a shock for her to find out that muggle borns had not stolen their powers or were evil. Damien had been kind and charming and not at all like her parents had said one such as he would be. They'd become friends and by the time they were about to graduate they were in love. They'd eloped shortly after graduation. Her parents had been furious.
The woman glanced back at the man, staring at him. "What happened to your face." She barked shocked that there was a hideous scar marring his once perfectly chiseled features.
In a moment of clarity she realized that he was not Cedric Kameren.
"Who are you really and what do you want with me?"
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 10, 2011 0:48:37 GMT -5
"Just like a Kameren to assume the child is male. I will not let you sully Arianna. She is too precious for someone such as you to touch her. Even if she is a halfblood."
Curse's eyes widened. He was speechless; everything suddenly lined up for him. A middle-aged pureblood woman, terrified of her family taking her half-blood child. She was delusional, locked away in St. Mungo's. This was Arianna Blackthorn's mother. Things suddenly got a lot more complicated.
"Go away. I won't let you take me back. I will not allow them to brain wash me. Not all muggle borns are horrible, you know..."
"Please, I just want to help you," Curse inched around the woman, teetering dangerously when he moved away from the wall. He moved back into the woman's vision, concern evident in his face. He frowned, meeting her green eyes steadily. "Just let me see the child. I need to make sure she's okay."
The woman glanced back at the man, staring at him. "What happened to your face."
The professor put shaky fingers to his face, the tips of his fingers grazing his scar. He watched as the realization dawned on her. Damn. Now she wouldn't trust him. Now what was he supposed to say? If she thought Arianna was still a baby, he couldn't tell her he was Cedric's son, not when she probably though Cedric was around his age. He sighed, closing his eyes. He did not have the energy for this.
"Who are you really and what do you want with me?"
He sighed, unsure how to explain to her. "Listen, this may be difficult for you to understand, but I'm Cedric's son. His halfblood son. I promise, I don't want to hurt Arianna. I just need to make sure she's okay," He glanced down at the bundle of blankets wrapped in the woman's arms. He looked into this woman's eyes, and he understood. This was what Arianna had been afraid of, what she had seen in him. What was he supposed to do?
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 10, 2011 1:06:43 GMT -5
The imposter touched his face. Apparently he hadn't realized his mask had slipped and his evilness was showing. A man which a broken face had to be evil, yes? She didn't know anymore. Suddenly she felt tired and leaned against the wall her grip loosening on the child.
Cedric had a son. A halfblood son. A bitter laugh burst out of Aimee's chest. Oh this was just wonderful. Should she believe this stranger?
"Is your mother a muggle or a mudblood?" She demanded, curious to see which way the great Cedric Kameren would go. Despite marrying a muggleborn she still used the derogatory term. Damien had left her to fend for herself. It was her fault that her family had turned on her.
Aimme thrust the bundle at Cruse, letting go before it was in his arms.
"That is not my child. I want my child." She said petulantly, as if Curse could give her Arianna.
---
The staff had been changing when Amiee Blackthorn had escaped. It had been nearly half an hour before Elle Callahan realized that one of the patients was lose on the ward. Anxious to find the delusional woman, she quickly walked down the hallways. Her wand was in her pocket but quickly assessable in case she needed it. A wand directly out in front of Amiee was a disaster waiting to happen. As a young woman she'd been captured and tortured by death eaters. Wands scared her. God she hoped she was alright.
Finally she heard voices coming from the Hallway near the Kameren wing. Elle quickened her short steps. She turned the corner to see a weak Curse barely standing. He should not be out of bed dealing with crazed witches.
Elle slowed down, as she heard Amiee claim that it wasn't her child and thrust a bundle of rags at Curse. She prayed that Amiee had the doll she claimed was Arianna and not a real baby girl. Surely, she couldn't have escaped the ward and travel down several floors to the maternity. She hadn't been lose that long.
"Hi Amiee. I found Arianna. She's coming to see you." Arianna had been notified the second they knew her mother was missing.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 10, 2011 1:52:09 GMT -5
Curse didn't bother to reply to the woman's snap about his mother; he wasn't going to take blood bigotry from a woman he met in the mental ward, no matter whose mother she was. He gasped, lunging for the bundle of rags as the woman dropped them. Thank Merlin, it was only a toy. He let out a breath, his teeth gritting as the pain from the sudden movement caught up with him. His body was in agony; the distraction of the situation had temporarily numbed him from it, but now it was coming back. He started to shake uncontrollably, the wrapped doll falling through his hands.
"That is not my child. I want my child."
Curse looked at her helplessly, sinking to the floor. He didn't know what to do. He was a patient, not a doctor. He couldn't help this woman. He couldn't even help himself. He sighed, thankful when he finally heard footsteps coming to his aid. This better be Mungo's staff. Thank Merlin, it was Elle. His guardian angel in this grey, sterile wasteland. He smiled, his muscles shaking uncontrollably as he started to shut down. She was just in time.
"Hi Amiee. I found Arianna. She's coming to see you."
He tried to stand up when he heard Arianna was coming. He wanted to go back to his room, close the door and black out alone. He was in enough pain today, he didn't need to see her too. She lied to him. He had told her everything about himself, his worst secrets, but she had lied to him. What, did she think Aimee was worse than Cedric? The pain in his body seemed to fuel his frustrated mind, and he just needed to escape. He just wanted to be healed.
"Elle," He was still shaking, leaning heavily against the wall to try to keep himself up, "if you could get someone to help me back, please. After you help Aimee. I just..." He trailed off, not really wanting to talk about his real reason for wanting to escape. Elle was his healer, though; it wasn't like she hadn't already heard about his difficult relationship with Arianna Blackthorn. "...I just can't see Ari tonight. Please."
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Post by Elle Callahan on May 10, 2011 2:10:27 GMT -5
God, this was such a mess. Curse Kameren was on his knees shaking. She had been briefed on the reason why he was once again under her care. By god, the man shouldn't be out of bed. Damn Amiee Blackthorn to hell. Why did she choose this night to escape? The big dolt tried to stand on his own but his body protested. Before he could fall flat on his face, like he deserved, Elle was at his side, lifting him up by his shoulder. She could feel the tremors racking his body.
Then she realized the true pain he was in. Arianna Blackthorn was his ex-fiancée. He was still in love with her. Of course, he didn't want the love of his life to see him like this. Elle turned towards the mentally ill woman who was glaring at Elle like a toddler.
"I need to use my wand on him. I will not hurt you Aimee. Can I take my wand out?"
The older woman narrowed her eyes but nodded briefly.
Elle slowly withdrew her wand, summoning a stretcher. She also sent red sparks flying down the hallway to one of the nurse's stations. It was the signal saying that help was needed. In a minute help should arrive. In the mean time Elle needed to get Curse onto the stretcher. She lowered it till it was beside him just below his waist.
"Can you fall back on it, or do you want to lie on your stomach?" She asked gently.
"Stay." She commanded in her best authoritative, I will stun you voice.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 10, 2011 10:25:47 GMT -5
Curse stayed quiet, breathing uneasily as he watched the exchange between Elle and Aimee. It was interesting, seeing how the doctors acted with the other patients; he had been kept away from the other patients most of the time, either to protect him from the pure-blooded patients or to protect them from him. He had never quite worked out who was being protected. He eyed the stretcher warily as Elle summoned it.
"Can you fall back on it, or do you want to lie on your stomach?"
He looked at her worriedly; falling onto that thing in any way was going to hurt like hell. His body was extra-sensitive to everything at the moment, the transitory phase of his poison antidote making him vulnerable. Still, it would be better than trying to walk back to his room, most likely falling on his way over. He bit his tongue, resigning to his fate and falling back onto the stretcher.
He yelled out on impact with the stretcher, barking out quite a few words that Max would not be proud of. He grit his teeth, grasping the ends of the stretcher with white knuckles. His eyes closed tight, his body tensing to try to absorb the pain of the impact. It was only a stretcher, for Merlin's sake. He hated how weak he was sometimes.
"Stay."
Curse grunted, actually obeying for once. He wasn't in a position to argue at this point. He just wanted to get back to his room, preferably before Arianna arrived.
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Post by Elle Callahan on May 14, 2011 21:20:16 GMT -5
Elle winced when Curse fell back. It must have hurt like hell, but it had to be done. She gently pushed his hair out of his eyes. God it must suck being Curse Kameren. She hadn't meant for him to stay of course, she had been directly that command at Amiee Blackthorn who had begun to shift her feet.
An orderly came down the hall and at Elle's direction took the escaped woman back to her room. The older lady was not happy. She wanted to know where her baby girl was.
Elle shook her head as she began to float Curse back to his room. Their pace was slow and steady and she carefully moved him, trying not to jostle the stretcher.
"You Curse Kameren, are a brave fool. Next time, just ring the bell. But I don't blame you. Once an auror, always an auror." She grinned down at him as they walked. Her chatter was just friendly with only a hint of reproach. She cared for this man and he better not do anything stupid to hurt his health. She knew what it was like to lose a parent young and she was not going to allow this man to quicken his trip to death's door.
Soon they reached his room and she laid him and the stretcher on the bed. once he was down, she'd tapped the stretcher twice and it disappeared, banished to where the others were. Quickly she walked around the room tidying up a bit as she prepared a painkiller potion. She walked to his side holding a small cup in her hand.
"You should drink this. It will dull the pain a bit and help you sleep. I don't want you getting up tonight. If you need anything just pull the bell by the bed or magically send up a spark. I'll see it."
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 15, 2011 1:51:09 GMT -5
Curse laid on the stretcher, keeping his eyes closed. Maybe if he willed himself to sleep he would fall faster. He just wanted to be put out, to not have to endure the pain. The pain was part of the healing, unfortunately, so they could only suppress it, not get rid of it. The searing in his veins was hopefully clearing out some of the poison, beyond just burning his body.
He hardly heard what Elle said as she chatted at him down the hall into his room, but laid straight for her as she lifted him magically into the bed. He grimaced as she wandered around the room. He turned gingerly on his side, his body curling up from the pain. He just wanted it to stop, why couldn't it just stop? No, he needed this. Pain now, results later. Pain now, results later.
He opened an eye as Elle held something out towards him. "You should drink this. It will dull the pain a bit and help you sleep. I don't want you getting up tonight. If you need anything just pull the bell by the bed or magically send up a spark. I'll see it."
"If it has any sort of marrow extract or alcohol I can't take it with this new potion. I don't really know what I can take anymore," he replied, his voice quiet, as if speaking loudly would affect his body too much, "I'm worried about it. If I mess this up, I could die tonight instead of years from now. I need to be able to pick Max up from Alex's tomorrow." He frowned, worried. Curse couldn't make gambles like this anymore, he had too much to lose. His own mortality scared him, and it hadn't before. But what would Max do without him?
He held up a hand to Elle's potion offer, denying it. He'd rather take the night of agony with healing afterwards than be weak for a moment and pay for it the rest of his short life.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 15, 2011 15:56:00 GMT -5
Dim light and silence wrapped around Arianna in a warm embrace. She was enclosed in her cubicle inside the department of mysteries, surrounded by parchment and books. An hour ago she had shoved aside her chair and instead sat cross legged on the floor her work spread out all around her. She was studying what was looking like an older version of a healing rune from the second century. She was trying to figure out if it was indeed an origin ruin or just another variation. She was also trying to replicate the magical properties but the lines were not following a pattern of implementation that she was familiar with.
She was engrossed in her work, so much so that she hadn't heard the flap of wings. It wasn't until the owl hooted in her ear and landed on her head that she realized she had a visitor.
"BY MERLIN!" She yelled at the sudden intrusion. She swatted at her head, wincing as the bird nipped her fingers. Carefully, she grabbed the bird on the sides and set it in her lap and undid the letter.
Dear Ms. Blackthorn,
Do not be alarmed but your mother had escaped her room and was wondering the halls. She is in a fit of delirium and would benefit from your presence. If you could please come and see her it will be much appreciated . There is also new treatments available to assist your mother and these must be discussed as well as paperwork to fill out.
Thank you, and I apologize for the late night request.
St. Mungos Night Staff
"Bloody Hell," She muttered after scanning the missive. So, her mother was having one of her episodes again. It must have been a particularly bad one if they thought she could help calm her down. It had been years since her mother had recognized her. She'd still been in school the last time her mother knew who she was and actually believed it.
But, she had to go. It was her mother and she had been ignoring her lately. It had been years since she had seen the woman. Arianna, was not keen about spending much time with a woman who believed she was a thief, spy, lair or a contract killer. This would be lovely.
Arianna arrived at the hospital but before she was shown to her mother's room she had been told about the incident. Apparently, Aimee Blackthorn had escaped during shift change with a babydoll, believing it was Arianna. She then accosted a patience who was trying to help her. That man turned out to be Curse Kameren. Arianna groaned. This was wonderful. Then fear washed over her and she felt sick. She had told Curse that her mother was dead. In reality, the woman in the hospital was not her mother, just a shell. She stared at the woman who laid huddled in her bed refusing to look at Arianna. This was not the woman who had sung her to sleep and kissed her bruises. This was the woman so ensnared by her inner demons that she had Arianna arrested at sixteen, believing that she was an intruder.
It was early in the morning when Arianna had finally allowed herself to check on Curse. The healer in training Callahan, had told her about the procedure. That Curse was trying a new treatment that was practically burning his insides. It sounded terrible but she feared that he recognized her mother and that he would be furious at her. She hadn't trusted him enough to tell him about her mother.
The door was open, but she couldn't go in. She leaned against the door jam, watching him. Afraid that he knew her secret. Even Peter thought her Mother dead.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 15, 2011 16:36:25 GMT -5
Curse hadn't slept a moment since Elle left him. He laid on his back, his eyes glaring unblinkingly up at the grey ceiling once again. For anyone but him, this pain would be unbearable. There was no kind of searing pain like this, but Curse would take it all over again if he could erase the pain in his heart. She had lied to him. He had trusted her with everything, his greatest secrets and most sensitive inner thoughts. He had given all of himself to her, and she destroyed him. All of his work was for nothing. After everything they'd been through, the promises they would have made to each other. They would have meant nothing.
He noticed when his door opened, heard the voices outside his room. His mind had trouble focussing on any one thing; the pain made everything blurry, sounds coming in like distant echoes. His muscles twitched and cramped as they tensed from the pain. He didn't move. He wasn't sure if he could.
Then, someone leaned against the door. He didn't need to look to know who it was. It was that blasted feeling, that constant awareness of her. He used to love that feeling, now he felt betrayed. "I see Miss Callahan has trouble comprehending what 'I don't want to see anyone' means," He replied through gritted teeth his voice raspy as he spoke through the pain.
Curse forced himself to move, sitting up on his elbows and turning his head toward the woman at the door. Despite the fire raging through him, his green eyes were cold when they fell on Arianna. "What do you want? Would you like to take anything else from me? My sanity, my dignity, my love and my secrets can't possibly be enough. My son as well, I suppose. He never stops talking about you anymore. Or are there any more lies you'd like to tell me? I've already got this one about your mother and the whole 'for better or worse' thing was obviously a bust..."
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